Cultivator disc supporting assembly



April 13, 1948. J. CAFFESE CULTIVATOR DISC SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY 7 Filed July 27, 1945 INVENT'OR Jose 912 C'affese n-rrys Patented Apr. 13, 1948 CULTIVATOR DISC SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY Joseph Cafiese, Stockton, Calif. Application Jul 27, 1943, Serial No. 496,293

1 Claim. 01. 308-19) This invention relates in general to improvemerits inagricultural implements, and in particular the invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a ridge breaker or cutter of novel construction; the implement being useful to cut down irrigation checks or ridges in fields prior to cultivation of the latter. The substantial leveling of checks or ridges prior to tractor plow cultivation of a field is desirable, as other wise the tractor must climb up and drop over each ridge, with resultant power loss, as well as discomfort and annoyance to the tractor driver.

A further object is to provide an implement of the type, and for the purpose described, which includes a draft assembly and a pair of generally opposite sides and intermediate the ends of the latter, said arms thence projecting forwardly in symmetrical diverging relation to the drawbar to a termination some distance ahead thereof, a cross beam rigidly connected between said draft arms intermediate their ends and supporting the forward end of the drawbar, and elements on the forward end of said draft arms for attachment to a tractor; the disc assembly being mounted on the rear end of the drawbar. The above draft assembly is strong, resists twisting strains, and maintains the cultivator disc assembly in correct position relative to the ground.

An additional object of the invention is to provide, in the disc assembly, a novel bearing structure which permits of easy and ready removal of the cultivator discs for replacement or repair.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the implement. Figure 2 is a rear end view of the implement.

2 Figure 3 is a side elevation of the implement. Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of one of the cultivator disc supporting bearing assemblies.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, my improved implement embodies a draft assembly'comprising a heavy-duty, longitudinally extending drawbar I disposed above the ground in generally horizontal relation thereto. A pair of draft arms 2 are secured at their rear ends to the drawbar I intermediate the ends of the latter; said draft arms projecting forwardly in symmetrical diverging relation to said drawbarto a termination some distance ahead thereof. A cross beam 3 is connected between the draft arms 2 between the ends of the latter, and'the forward end of the drawbar I is secured to said cross beam centrally of the ends of thelatter.

At the forward end of draft arms 2 I provide upstanding attachment ears 4, suitably braced as at 5, and each ear is adapted to be pivotally secured to a corresponding draft connection 5 on the tractor.

A cultivator disc assembly is mounted in connection with the rear end of the drawbar I and comprises the following:

A bracket I, notched at the top as at 8, for the reception of the rear end of the drawbar, and into which notch said end of the drawbar is secured by bolts 9, is provided with forwardly diverging legs II) which also have an upward and outward slope, as shown. Cultivator discs II are journaled on the outer ends of legs It by means of the bearing assembly hereinafter described; said discs converging forwardly and being canted inwardly at the top. The forward convergence of the discs is such that at their leading edge they run quite close to the sides of the drawbar. Scraper or cleaner blades I2 are mounted on the drawbar ahead of the discs and project thereinto in cooperating relation.

A transverse lifting member I3 is secured beneath and across the draft assembly parallel to and slightly rearwardly of the cross beam 3; the ends of said lifting member projecting laterally beyond the draft arms 2. Lifting chains I4 connect between the outer ends of member I3 and the rear ends of power-actuated lifting arms I5 which project rearwardly from the tractor above the draft connections 6. It will be seen that by raising or lowering the lifting arms I5, the depth of penetration of the discs I I into the ground may be effectively controlled.

In use the implement is connected to a tractor in the manner described and is set so that the By merely removing the hub cap 25 and the disc discs II are capable of substantial penetration securing sleeve 24, the disc ll may be slipped off into the ground. Thereafter the implement is of th rotary housing fo replacement or drawn lengthwise of the ridge or check to be cut, pair.

and the discs break up the ridge to a substantial 5 From the foregoing description it will be readextent, the earth dug from each ridge being diily seen that I have produced such a device as subverted laterally on opposite sides of the implestantially fulfills the objects of the invention as ment by, thediscs H, and due -to-thepositiQni setwforth herein,

thereof,-as-descrihed Also, as theidiscfsfare canted While U is fipef' fficat'ioii se tsjfogth in detail the inwardly at the top, or flared at the bottom, said 10 present and preferred construction of the device, discs have suificient suction to maintain the same still in practice such deviations from such detail in the ground during operation of the imp ement inay be resorted to as do not form a departure Further, as the discs are opposed the implement if m m -spinner the invention, as defined by the has no side draft or tendency to drift laterallyofi a pend d claim.

the ridge. (m 1: H ,avingv ;thus described my invention, what I The discs H may be readily emoved for re: claim "as n jew and useful and desire to secure by placement or repair, by reason of the iiiiique =I.'tt'ers Patent is:

hearing which I employ to support the same frgm A cultivator disc supporting assembly including the bracket 1, andeach bearing structure cornr in Eoii'ibihation with adisc having a central bore,

prises thefollowing: w x 1 v a fixed leg, an enlarg 'rcu arheadon the end Each legit r i g t its outer enjtif'lly fron the end wanes d r r y posed, circular head l5, "from the'c'fite Of Which'a spindle 11 projects outwargzlly... ,A tubularrotary hojisingfor hub 18 surrounds thespindle' an'd' is supported thereon fojr irotary "ment y;means er bearin'gs l'9;'tliea"sjs'er'h ,y fsaidrot'ai'yhousing and bearings blng lie'ld oiilthe 'sp die n andagaihst I axial displacfment relativetheretobymeahs o'f a nut 2'91 threaded ;onjthe outer 'endoffspindle l' l, said nutb'eing releas'ably h'ld against rotation by a cotterpin'orf the like. a v I H The rotary housing l 8 form tegr'al circularjback pl'a 12 n 1y greater diameter thanft c'u ar cad end includes a rearwardly projectingfiange *22 overhanging the latter. disc. I v

A plurality of 'annula ftlisc en'- gagingand backing flang s N ef fornied with H MY- and'project forwardly'fro' the'ha'ck platfe fl ljthe REFERENCES CITED t t 1 er he rvtary usmg r efieiiet ng efe'reiices are of record is the and engagmg agan 7 file bfth'is' peremtubular housing 18 and abuts agai Date,

the dis'cjadj'a v u "15175 setter 23 of backplate 2 I. 

